What cancer effects the heart?
Table of Contents
Cancers that may affect the heart include lung cancer, breast cancer, esophageal cancer, kidney cancer, leukemia, lymphoma and melanoma, among others.
Can breast cancer metastasis to the heart?

This is one of the few described case reports of breast cancer metastasizing to the left ventricle of the heart. Cardiac metastases are usually detected late and rarely seen as the first site of metastases. Cardiac metastases have been found in 6–20% of autopsies of patients with malignant neoplasms.
How does breast cancer affect the cardiovascular system?
Radiation and other treatments can scar or stiffen heart tissue, causing damage including hypertension, arrhythmias, myocardial ischemia, valvular disease, thromboembolic disease and pericarditis. Older women who survive breast cancer treatment become more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than breast cancer.
Which of the following sets of risk factors is common to both cardiovascular disease and breast cancer?
Abstract. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of mortality in women, yet many people perceive breast cancer to be the number one threat to women’s health. CVD and breast cancer have several overlapping risk factors, such as obesity and smoking.

How long can you live with a tumor on your heart?
The average life expectancy after a heart cancer diagnosis is about six months without surgical treatment, and greater than a year when surgery is possible with some reports of patients surviving several years after a complete resection of the tumor.
Can heart tumors be cured?
There isn’t a cure for heart cancer, and the disease is difficult to treat. After treatment, heart cancer often returns and may spread to other parts of the body.
Does radiation on left breast affect the heart?
Potential damage to the heart is influenced by the area of the chest where the tumour is located i.e. radiation targeted to the left breast increases the risk of damage to the heart.
Can radiotherapy for breast cancer affect the heart?
While radiotherapy plays a crucial role in treating breast cancer, it can cause incidental damage to the heart and lungs, that may in turn increase the risk of heart disease and lung cancer.
Does left breast radiation damage the heart?
Years ago, researchers discovered that many patients who underwent radiation therapy to the left breast later developed heart conditions, including pericardial disease, conduction abnormalities, coronary artery disease, congestive heart disease, heart valve disease and even sudden cardiac death.
What is the strongest risk factor for breast cancer?
Age is the most significant risk factor for breast cancer. The disease is rare in women younger than 25 years, and the incidence increases with increasing age, reaching a plateau in women aged 50-69 years.
What is a cardiac tumor?
A cardiac tumor is an abnormal growth of tissue in the heart, and may be classified as either cancerous (malignant) or non-cancerous (benign). Cardiac tumors are further classified as either primary (originating within the heart itself) or secondary (spread from a primary tumor in a different part of the body).
What are the nodes of the heart?
The heart has two nodes that are instrumental in cardiac conduction, which is the electrical system that powers the cardiac cycle. These two nodes are the sinoatrial (SA) node and the atrioventricular (AV) node. The sinoatrial node, also referred to as the pacemaker of the heart, coordinates heart contractions.
How does a malignant heart tumour affect the heart?
A malignant heart tumour can affect the heart in many ways and may cause symptoms relating to obstruction of blood flow in the heart or lead to a collection of fluid around the outer layer of the heart (the pericardium). This can lead to breathlessness, arrhythmias, blackouts and sometimes sudden death.
What are the most common types of benign heart tumors?
The most common types of benign heart tumors are: Myxoma – most common primary cardiac tumor. Account for approximately 50% of primary cardiac tumors. Papillary fibroelastoma – most common cardiac tumor to affect the cardiac valves. Mean age at diagnosis is 60 years old.